UPSC IFS Botany Syllabus

1. Microbiology and Plant Pathology:

 Viruses, bacteria, and plasmids-structure and reproduction. General account of

infection, Phytoimmunology.
 Applications of microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine and pollution
control in air, soil and water.
 Important plant diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and
nematodes.
 Mode of infection and dissemination.
 Molecular basis of infection and disease resistance/defence. Physiology of
parasitism and control measures. Fungal toxins.

2. Cryptogams:

 Algae, Fungi, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes-structure and reproduction from

evolutonary viewpoint.
 Distribution of Cryptogams in India and their economic potential.

3. Phanerogams:

 Gymnosperms: Concept of Progymonosperms. Classification and distribution of

Gymnosperms. Salient features of Cycadales, Coniferrals and Gnetales, their
structures and reproduction. General account of Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales and
Cordaitales.
 Angiosperms: Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogeny.
Comparative account of various systems of Angiosperm Classiification. Study of
angiospermic families–Magnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae (Cruci-
ferae), Rosaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceaie, Dipterocar-paceae,
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solana-ceae, Rubiaceae,
Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae (Composite), Poaceae (Gramineae), Arecaceae
(Palmae), Liliaceae, Musaceae, Orchidaceae. Stomata and their types. Anomalous
secondary growth, Anatomy of C 3 and C 4 plants. Development of male and
female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization. Endosperm–its development and
function. Patterns of embryo development. Polyembryony, apoxmix, Applications
of palynology.

4. Plant Utility and Exploitation:

 Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov's centres of origin. Plants as sources for food,
fodder, fibres, spices, beverages, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums,
resins and dyes. Latex, cellulose Starch and their products. Perfumery.
Importance of Ethnobotany in Indian context. Energy plantation. Botanical
Gardens and Herbaria.

5. Morphogenesis:

 Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and differentiation. Cell, tissue, organ and

protoplast culture. Somatic hybrids and Cybrids
Paper - II
1. Cell Biology:

 Techniques of Cell Biology. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells -structural and

ultrastructural details. Structure and function of extracellular matrix or ECM (cell
wall) and membranes-cell adhesion, membrane transport and vesicular transport.
Structure and function of cell organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER,
ribosomes, endosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes, hydrogenosome). Nucleus,
nucleolus, nuclear pore complex. Chromatin and nucleosome. Cell signalling and
cell receptors. Signal transduction (G-1 proteins, etc.). Mitosis and meisdosis;
molecular basis of cell cycle. Numerical and structural variations in chromosomes
and their significance. Study of polytene, lampbrush and B-chromosomes
structure, behaviour and significance.

2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution:

 Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles).

Quantitative genetics and multiple factors. Linkage and crossing over–methods
of gene mapping including molecular maps (idea of mapping function). Sex
chromosomes and sexlinked inheritance, sex determination and molecular basis
of sex differentiation. Mutation (biochemical and molecular basis). Cytoplasmic
inheritance and cytoplasmic genes (including genetics of male sterility). Prions
and prion hypothesis. Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and protines.
Genetic code and regulation of gene expression. Multigene families. Organic
evolution-evidences, mechanism and theories. Role of RNA in origin and
evolution.
3. Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics:

 Methods of plant breeding -- introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree,

backcross, mass selection, bulk method). Male sterility and heterosis breeding.
Use of apomixis in plant breeding. Micropropagation and genetic
engineering–methods of transfer of genes and transgenic crops; development
and use of molecular markers in plant breeding.

 Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV). Tests of significance (Z-test,

t-test and chi-square tests). Probability and distributions (normal, binomial and
Poisson distributions). Correlation and regression.

4. Physiology and Biochemistry:

 Water relations, Mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies.

Photosynthesis–photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon
pathways including C pathway (photorespiration), C, C and CAM pathways.
Respiraion (anaerobic and aerobic, including fermentation-electron transport
chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis.
Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism. Enzymes, coenzymes, energy
transfer and energy conservation. Importance of secondary metabolites.
Pigments as photoreceptors (plastidial pigments and phytochrome).
Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence. Growth substances-
their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-horticulture, growth
indices, growth movements. Stress physiology (heat, water, salinity, metal).
Fruit and seed physiology. Dormancy, storage and germination of seed. Fruit
ripening -- its molecular basis and manipulation.
5. Ecology and Plant Geography:

 Ecological factors. Concepts and dynamics of community. Plant succession.

Concepts of biosphere. Ecosystems and their conservation. Pollution and its
control (including phytoremediation).

 Forest types of India -- afforestation, deforestation and social forestry.

Endangered plants, endemism and Red Data Books. Biodiversity. Convention
of Biological Diversity, Sovereign Rights and Intellectual Property Rights.
Biogeochemical cyeles. Global warming.